Viewing parties are planned across the country today as soccer fans prepare for the World Cup match between Canada and Belgium - Canada's first match in the tournament since 1986.

In Montreal, there is a brewing competition between the French-speaking Belgian community in the city and fans of Team Canada, who enter today's match in Qatar as heavy underdogs.

Canada also received good news on Tuesday when it was revealed that winger Alphonso Davies - the team's strongest player - has recovered from a hamstring injury and announced he is ready to play again.

Belgium is currently favored to win Group F, which also includes 2018 finalist Croatia and Morocco, ranked 22nd in the world.

But Belgium will be without its star forward Romelu Lukaku, who hasn't played a match for nearly a month due to a thigh injury.

Canada ranks 41st in the FIFA rankings, while Belgium is in second place.